Shoe with interchangeable uppers



Dec. 20, 1949 F; P RLA E 2,491,930

SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE UPPERS Filed April 26, 1947 IN V EN TOR. Ibanli Par'Zczn Ze Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,491,930 SHOE wrrn INTERCHANGEABLE UPPERS Frank Parlante, Grcat'Neck, N. Y.

Application April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,098

This invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to shoes for women having parts thereof interchangeable so that the color and appearance of the shoe may be changed to the style desired.

My principal objective was to construct :a shoe in which the upper parts thereof might be quickly and readily interchanged, the advantages of such a shoe being many in that not only might the wearer change the color and appearance of the shoe to conform to the apparel being worn, but a considerable savings would be effected by having one shoe with many interchangeable tops taking the place of several pairs of shoes.

Another advantage would be a conserving of space when traveling while, at the same time, the wearer would be afiorded a choice of a large variety of shoes for different purposes.

A further advantage is the construction of the lower section of the shoe in several basic sizes while the upper section will have a variety of sizes due to difference in shape above the juncture between the sections that will enable individuals having feet of different characteristics to obtain a comfortable fit. -The lower section of the shoe being more flexible than the upper section will accommodate a variety of sizes while the top portion may be selected to assure a snug and satisfactory fi-t.

Another advantage is that the uppers may be readily and quickly detached and interchanged with a new upper through the use of a zipper" connection.

Further advantages and unique features of my device will be apparent as I proceed with the description.

With reference to the drawings- Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a shoe incorporating my construction with the upper section detached; and

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a shoe incor- 1 Claim. (Cl. 36-25) heel l5 amxed thereto in the conventional man- At the upper edge of the lower section l2 of the shoe there is attached a string of slide fastener elements 20. Positioned on thet element is a slider 2| that is slidably operable on both slide fastener elements 13 and 20 to coast with these elements and secure them in locking en gagement with each other.

'As indicated in the drawings, the slide fastener elements i3 and 20, respectively, extend through what constitutes approximately the mid portion of the toe l6, vamp l8 and counter M of the shoe and the upper section I I may be readily detached from the lower section l2 by operating the slider 2| which disengages the elements I3 and 20 from each other. As shown in Fig. 2, the slide fastener elements l3 and 20, respectively, may be attached to the shoe in various configurations to add to the appearance and novelty of the foot wear.

porating a further modification of my construction with the upper section detached.

Referring more particularly itO the drawings, my shoe I0 is comprised of upper and lower sections or members II and [2, respectively. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper ll may be made in a variety of shapes and styles and is equipped along its lower edge with a string of slide fastener elements l3. The string of slide fastener elements 13 extends along the lower edge of the upper section I l starting and terminating on the counter portion I! of the shoe at a position directly above the heel l5. The'lower sec.- tion l2 of the shoe has the conventional toe l5, sole l'l, vamp I8 and shank l9 portions with-the The lower section l2 of the shoe, constituting the toe l6, vamp l8 and counter M, will be made in a few standard sizes with which a plurality of uppers ll may be readily interchanged. The toe l6 and vamp l8 willhave a certain degree of flexibility in order that the lower section 12 of the shoe will have a greater size range and a larger number of people may be comfortably equipped by a few basic sizes where heretofore a great variety of sizes were required. For example, a woman taking a size 6A may be fitted vwith the same lower section as a woman requiring 6D. However, the upper sections will be varied so as to afiord each wearer a comfortable fit.

The style of the uppers may vary as described such as a closed shoe as shown in Fig. l or a shoe with an open portion 22 and a strap 23 as shown in Fig. 2. Obviously, many other modifications and forms may be utilized without departing from the principal objective of the invention. In its preferred form, it is contemplated to use a zipper device as the connecting means between the upper and lower members of the shoe. However, it is also realized that other similar means may be utilized such as lacing, stitching, crochetin-g, etc., to join the upper and lower members together.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to, a present preferred form which it may assume, it is not to be limited to such details and form since many changes and modifications maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence, it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claim.

I claim:

A ladys high-heeled shoe comprising a sole and heel portion and an upper for covering the foot, said upper extending circumferentially completelypround the shoe to cover the heel ofthe wearer at the rear and the instep at the front, said upper being secured at its lower edge to the periphery of the sole and heel portion andbeing circumferentially divided into separable and substantially equal upper and lower sections, said division having undulations, a string ,of slide f-astener elements on each of the adjacent edges of said sections, a slider operable on said elements for engaging said strings of fastener elements thereby detachably securing the upper section to the lower section to permit interchanging of the upper section for variation of color, contrast and style of the shoe, said modulations providing a -flle of this patent:

line of broken contrast on the shoe.

FRANK PARLAN'I'E.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,661,726 Jensen Mar. 6, 1928 2,200,080 Fein May 7, 1940 2,261,125 McF-reely Nov. 4, 1941 2,444,640 Epstein July 6, 1948 

